Fluid-gage



PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT HASTINGS, OF BRIGHTON, NEW YORK.

FLUID-GAGE.

T o all wiz/0m 'it may concer/a.'

Be it known that l, HERBERT HAs'rrNGs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brighton, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Gages.

T his invention relates particularly to fluid gages such as may be used for indicating the amount of fluid in the fuel tanks for automotive motors or similar applications and has as its objects to provide An improved method of supporting the float mechanism in a tank flange or adapting cylinder.

An improved float and guide plate con struction.

Other objects a d features of my invention will be set forth in connection with the following description of the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a partial plan view of the head of a gage embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view in elevation taken on the line X X of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a broken plan view of the flange or adapting cylinder shown in Fig. 2.

Fi 4 is a sectional view, taken on the line 3 X3 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the plate 2 shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line X5 X5 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the plate-assembled in the flangetaken on the line Y3 Y3 of Fig. 3, and on the line Y5 Y5 ofthe plate Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the dial shown in Fig. 2. y

Fig. V9 is va sectional view in elevation showing the dial and plate assembled, taken on the line X8 X8 of Fig. 8, and the line X5 X of Fig. 5.`

Fig. 10 is an elevation view, looking to theleft, of the float unit shown in Fig.v 2.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the float unit shown in Fig. 10.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings,

1 is the adapting cylinder the lower end of which is flared outwardly for soldering to a tank and the upper end is flanged inwardly at la; this flange, is pierced with a central opening l", and is provided with depressed seats or ears l spaced around the central opening.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1921.

Application led April 9, 1919. Serial No. 288,839.

2 is a plate, to the underside of which is attached the float mechanism, and has eX- tending raised projections 2b and an eX- tending depressed ear or projection 2; the projections 2b are adapted to rest in the seats lc of the flange so that the top surface of the projections is flush with the top surface of the flange l2L and the depressed projection 2d is adapted to hook under a flat portion of the flange la so that that side of the plate will not lift out ofthe flange. The sides of the raised projections are adapted to register with the sides of the depressed seats in the flange, thereby maintaining the plate in a central position on the flange. The flat portion of the plate is pierced with two side holes 2e and a central hole 2f, and the raised projections are provided with notches 2g.'

3 is a graduated dial plate on which are inscribed the readings or calibrations of the gage. Spaced around the periphery of this plate are provided downwardly projecting ears 13 adapted to index with the notches 2g of the plate 2 and adapted to clench thereunder to attach the dial rplate to the upper surface of the projections 2b thereof in a. predetermined and central position; the dial plate is pierced at 3b in alinement with the hole 2t in the plate 2, see Fig. 8.

4t is a U shaped float guide and spiral support, the upper ends of which are reduced in diameter and vshouldered at la and which ends are adapted to enter the holes 2e shouldering against the underside thereof and riveted over on the upper side to accomplish a rigid connection of these two parts. The lower cross portion ofthe U is provided with a bottomed hole 4; which serves as a pivot bearing seat for the shaft 5.

The indicator shaft 5 is formed from square or fiat stock, which is twisted to vform a helix of a proper helical angle to `causeit to rotate the desired amount as the float slides up and down from top to bottom of the guide, and is provided at its lower end with a reduced pivot point 5i* adapted to bear in the pivot seat 4, and at itsupper end with a reduced shouldered portion 5b adapted to pass through the hole 2f of plate 2 and shoulder beneath the underside thereof in a manner free to rotate. The eX- treme upper end carries an indicating pointer 6 which is adapted to traverse the graduated scale of the dial 3.

The float 7 is provided with a central clearance hole @through which the indicator shaft passes, and with side slots or The float guide plate 8 which is approximately U shaped is adapted to wrap around the float centrally, with the cross member vof the U lying in the bottom of one of the slots 7b in the float, and the two sides of the U lying across the upper and lower surfaces of the float central therewith. The upper member of the plate is forked at its end at 8a to straddle one leg ofthe guide to prevent the float from turning on its axis, and the tongue 8" which is sheared out to form this fork, is bent downwardly to embrace the bottom of the second slot in the float and the eXtreme end of this tongue is pointed and bent inwardly penetrating the oat to provide anchorage. The lower member of the plate is formed into a second tongue 8c which is bent upwardly embracing the bottom of the same slot and the eXtreme end of this tongue is also pointed and bent inwardly penetrating the float to provide anchorage.

" .It will thus be seen that the plate is held securely to the float in all directions. The upper member of the plate is pierced at 8e centrally with the float, to conform with the shape of the shaft 5 so that as this plate slides up anddown iny engagement with the helix the shaft is caused to rotate. The lower portion of the plate is pierced centrally at 8d by a hole sufiiciently large to allow the outside corners to pass through and rotate therein.

The parts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 when assembled as above described constitute what I will call the gage unit, see F ig. 2 and the parts 9, 10, 1l and l2 I will call the gage head, see same figure.

To assemble the complete gage, insert the lower portion of the gage unit down through the central opening 1b of the adapting cylinder l, bring the ears 2b of the plate 2 into correct position for entering the seats 1, hook the ear 2d under the flange 1a and slip the plate into place with the ears 21b resting in the depressions lc of the adapting cylinder. This bringsthe `under surface of the dial to rest on vthe upper surface of the flange la. After assembling the parts l0, 11 and 12 in the cap 9 as shown in Fig. 2, screw the cap down over the outside of l until the parts are firmly compressed, the relatively soft yieldable gasket l0 compresses over the edge ofthe dial 3 forming a tight seal against the upper surface of the flange 1 and the pressure of the gasket 10 on the edge of the dial holds the dial securely on the top of the flange l* and the plate securely in the seats 1. Y Y

Having thus described my invention in general what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a fluid gage, a tubular casing with an inturned flat flange provided with depressions separated by undepressed'V portions, a plate provided with ears adapted to seat in said depressions, `a float mechanism supported on one side of said plate, a dial attached to the other side of said plate resting on said flange outside of the depressions and means for maintaining the dial on the flange and the plate in the depressions.

' 2. In a fluid gage, a tubular casing withV an inturned flat flange provided with depressions, separated by undepressed portions, a plate provided with ears adapted to seat in said depressions and with an ear adapted to engage the under side of anundepressedV part of the flange, a float mechanism supported on one side of the plate, a dial on the other side of the plate resting on said flange,

means for maintaining the dial on the flange and the plate in the depressions. Y

8. In a fluid gage, a plate provided with supporting ears, a U shaped float guide with its ends riveted to the plate, a helical indicator shaft with one end revolubly supported in the plate and provided with an indicator, a float adapted to slide up and down the guide and provided with means for engaging the helix of the indicator shaft to cause it to revolve. A

4l. In a fluid gage; a graduated indicating plate provided with attaching ears, a float mechanism attached thereto including a supporting plate, an indicating pointer, a pointer shaft, and a guide; a float provided with a guide plate adapted to rotate the pointer shaftand to engage the guide to keep the float from rotating. e

5. In a fluid gage; 'a graduated dial, a fioat action mechanism attached thereto including 'an indicating pointer, a pointer shaft, and a guide; a float, a float plate embracing the top, bottom and sides Vof the float and provided with barbs for securing it thereto and also provided with means for revolving the pointer shaft and for engaging the guide. f v Y 6. In a fluid gage, a graduated dial,a float action mechanismattached thereto including an indicating pointer, a pointer shaft, and a guide; a float provided with side grooves, a

` HERBERT HASTINGS.

Witnesses:

' WM. MULCAHY,

EDNA M. CARMODY. 

